Mega-producerRyan Murphyis known for working with the same troupe of actors and his upcoming Netflix seriesRatchedwill be no exception, asThe Assassination of Gianni VersacestarsFinn WittrockandJon Jon Brioneswill joinSarah Paulsonon the show, multiple sources have told Collider.
Ratchedeffectively serves as a prequel to the Oscar-winning 1975 dramaOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, in whichLouise Fletcherplayed the infamous nurse tormenting poorJack Nicholson. The Netflix series will begin in 1947 and track Nurse Ratched’s terrifying progression through the mental health care system. The streaming service has given the series a two-season, 18-episode commitment.
Paulson will star as the title character, while Filipino actor Briones will play the head doctor at the mental institution where she works. Wittrock will play a violent criminal who shares a secret with Nurse Ratched. The latter actor has been a Murphy regular ever since working with him onThe Normal Heart. He has since played multiple characters onAmerican Horror Storyover the course of three seasons, and he was solid as Andrew Cunanan’s doomed loveJeffrey Trailon the second season ofAmerican Crime Story. It was while watchingVersacethat I was introduced to Briones, who as I wrotein my review, was “utterly fantastic” as Cunanan’s father. Briones parlayed his twoVersaceepisodes into a recurring role on the latest season ofAmerican Horror Story, but I’m thrilled to see him land a lead onRatched, because I think he’s a wildly talented actor.
Murphy has described the series as “a feminist horror story” that will explore the mind of a sociopath. “She’s one of the great villains…she’s like a female [Hannibal] Lecter,” Murphytold the crowdat GQ Live in Los Angeles last Saturday.He’llexecutive produceRatchedalongsideAleen Keshishian,Margaret RileyandJacob Epsteinof Lighthouse Management & Media, as well asMichael Douglas, who producedCuckoo’s Nest. The rights to thatJack Nicholsonclassic are owned by The Sault Zaentz Company, so itsPaul Zaentzwill produce along with Paulson, whileEvan Romansky, who created and wroteRatched, will co-executive produce the show, which hails from Fox 21 Television.
Wittrock, who will soon be seen inBarry Jenkins' dramaIf Beale Street Could Talk, is represented by CAA and Weissenbach Management, while Briones is repped by Abrams Artists Agency.
